Balancing the Budget With Bombings

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The tragic bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania for a short time threatened Rep. Gerald Solomon's (R-N.Y.) carefully crafted plan to have his legislation scored by the Congressional Budget Office as revenue neutral.

As a result of the bombing tragedies, some $1 billion is expected to be appropriated this month to upgrade security at American diplomatic facilities around the globe.

If the money is derived from the customary source, the Senate and House Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary Appropriations Committee the same trough that supplies the funds for the Securities and Exchange Commission budget offsets would be required. The chances for reducing 31(a) transaction and registration fees would then be dismal.

However, after a brief period of uncertainty, the Clinton administration announced it would request an emergency appropriation which falls outside congressional budget rules.